General Chat

oh Tony don't start me laughing again with that Mcdonald quarter pounder joke, I've told so many people, they all thought it a hoot Jillx

Ahhh, we Scots are a funny lot and just enjoy a good laugh! Can I have fries with that????

I woke up this morning with the beginings of a cold and it has developed nicely all day, so I'm going to have an early night and take some blue pills. Having a birthday lunch with my son tomorrow so have got to get on top of it. night all, Luv Jillx

Hello everyone .... :-) Hello, Rebs. I'd been asking if you were okay. Good to see you. Hello, Cuz Tony - did you see my thread about Jack the Ripper ? Joy

Hi everyone.. Just popping in to say Hi and read the posts..Glad to see you are all in good form and upholding the Wattle spirit... I said spirit,,not spirits...put that bottle back in the cabinet... Starting to get hemmed in with boxes so I must be making some progress.. Love you all.. Maryxxxxx

Evening all, Well I have finally caught up - 17 pages you'd waffled in the 3 days I was away and 2 I couldn't get on the net + 5 pages just today - phewwwww DD and I had a great time in Ol Sydney town - much more enjoyable than last trip in 1991 when we lasted just over 24 hours and couldn't get out fast enough - had horrible feeling that something was going to happen and it did - but not to us as I had thought - we got back to Canberra to wake to the news that Victor Chang had been shot - so no wonder I haven't been in a hurry to get back. Found out that I'm not very fit and if I'm to be walking around Noo York, Ottawa, Toronto & DC I'd better get in some training before Sept. Think I must have chilblains on little toes and they rubbed so sore toes, then hips thought they'd go out as well so I hobbled for the 3 days we were away. Anyway we went to the Zoo, Aquarium & Martime Museum. Not a lot of retail therapy (I hate shopping - yeh I know letting the side down) but I did get a new Teddy bear - James Cook. Have finally stopped bobbing up and down - all those trips on ferries & waiting on wharves that also bob - pmsl Mary - we ate at Rossini's both nights we were there - great food - didn't need to eat any chocolate or other junk we had but then we were eating late. 2nd night they gave us the menu to look at instead of picking what we wanted from the line which we had done the first night. Thought we might eat at Doyles but a prawn cocktail for $18 and mains for $32 was a bit OTT - when we win Lotto maybe. Weather was great too. Now how many of you know about the Welcome Wall at the Maritime Museum. Check out this website www(.)anmm(.)gov(.)au/ww Thought I might add my families but at $105 think I need Lotto win again - maybe do one now and another one later and so on. Big thank you from my Mum for her birthday wishes - she had a good day and still got more celebrating to do in the coming week when her s-i-l takes her out for a meal. Be back later, Tony got Lotto - thanks mate Welcome to Fitz - I worked for Shell in Adelaide just over 7 years before moving to Alice Springs. Gotta go - almost time for Dr - Dr Who that is Gwenda

Ok you lot.....am I the only one with a life? have favourite nephew and fiance` coming soon so I'll leave this as a bookmark. Lots of fun jokes you crazy peeps....keep 'em coming. Regal ~~~~~~~wave to all you mad lot. I'll be back. love Trifley X

Hi everyone :-) Loved the jokes lolol Rebs nice to see you again :-) *wonders why she's not surprised that Rebs and Lew are getting the blame* hehehe Laurie loved the smily website lolol ~~~~~~~~~~to all~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Catxx

Well we're back at hotel - had an interesting trip back from the city! Ray and I learnt the true meaning of backing up on the freeway . . . pmsl . . . your wildest thought . . . you got it !!!! The things you see on a freeway in Jakarta ! Now the bath tub on the push bike - that was hilarious, dont know how in hell he balanced it, but he did - and no Lew - there was noone in it (well not that we could see anyway) We are back from the shopping spree ( Ray went with the flow really well) and have a bit of a break before we head out back to the city for dinner. Its the posh nosh night with the partner, Josef, at the best Japanese in town. Anyway, the food will be excellent, good Aussie wine, and the company will be pretty good too - my little JoJo will be there! Off to prepare oneself suitable for the upcoming occasion - cheers luv Laurie

Draw 2607 11 22 23 24 38 39 sup 14 21

Bugger, this unpacking every saturday night is becomming a habit...lol

Oh, piffle winkin pooey! :>( Anna

How can so many numbers not come up????? lol Night all :) Vonny

I'm hooooooooooooooome! Just gotta tell ya Glenda (sorry you have chilblains - they are painful) - I lived near where Victor Chang was shot, and also near the Zoo, at that time. Stood on the very same wharf every morning on my way to work. Allllllllso - your Teddy bear has the same name as my rellie - JAMES COOK!!! He was my great grandfather. Digressing a bit - I gotta tell ya all. James's sister Rosa was 23 in the 1881 census, and had a shop - fruiterer and fish mongerer. Because she at that time was living near the Docks at Portsmouth, my daughter reckons she must have been a tart, as the family were not wealthy, and she was single!!!!!! Anyway getting back to my tale of the Dutch Club where I went tonight (they were celebrating Rembrandts 400th birthday). .. The people there decided we would eat the food they would have eaten 400 years ago. .. It wasn't too bad... I dont know the names of the dishes, but one vegetable was carrot, onion and potato sort of pureed, then cabbage pureed with something else, some chick peas, gravy and onions, plus a bit of salad - very tasty, cocktail pickled onions, tomato, lebanese cucumber and I forget what else, with vinegar. .. Very nice. Ohhh I forgot - there was a Kransky like sausage on the plate as well, quite nice .. Didnt win anything in the raffle, but they have a little dutch shop there like a mini supermarket, so I had to buy some stuff didnt I? .. Just as well I had some interpreters with me as who knows what I would have bought !!! .. One was chocolate covered ginger (which I sampled a while ago) - there are some interesting looking bikkies too. Was ducking my head with Tony running round playing MacTony in his kilt (nooooo not ducking to look underneath at all!!!!) - ducking so he wouldnt hit me with his sword accidentally!! .. Gee you lot have dirty minds! The run there and back wasn't as bad as I expected, it drizzled most of the time, but I was nice and warm in the car, and in the hall. .. Glad it wasnt a long night tho. I take it from all the swearing that went on, we didnt win anything???????? Wot happened to Lew - she was gonna put the results up for me? Well, I'm up to date with the Waffle page now, so will say goodnight - hope you feel better tomorrow Jill. Jood

Hi Wafflers Just had a lovely visit from Favourite nephew and fiance`. They bought me a beautiful bunch of flowers to cheer me up. I love my family....they are very good to me. Hope you all have a good nights sleep....see you tomorrow. love Trifley X

nitey nite all just looked at clock - gosh 5 hours and I'll be up again getting ready for work - been playing some games - doesn't time get away cu tamurra - sleep tight Gwenda

I'm back . . . at the hotel that is! - We left here at local time 6.30pm, but because of the traffic didn't get to the restraunt until 9pm . . . it a journey of usually about 35mins! But it was worth it - yummy Japanese. So it was a late start and a very late finish, back at the hotel at 20 mins past midnight! Found out why the traffic is so bad - the equivilent of the Royal Easter Show is on in town along with school holidays and the large Expo trade fair. There were 8 of us around the Tepanyaki table, (dont know why they dont call it a BBQ) lots of catching up, getting the gos, one of our friends had twin boys today, so lots of toasting, and we heard of the death of a very dear old friend also. Um Tox Inn was 87, and was the head designer of the furntiure factory owned by Josef (the partner) - Um is a title given to elderly respected folks - and he deserved it! Gorgeous, sweet, kind, gentle, generous Um Tox Inn. He often brought his keyboard to gatherings and would provide the music for us, when my neice Oni was over here with me a few years back he spent hours with her playing music and singing. Um designed furniture for Royalty throughout the world, (as well as some of those strange contraptions you often see in Ikea) The Sultan on Brunei consulted with him regarding his furniture needs (he was well known among the filthy rich as one who would design one off furniture for them incorporating there strange requests for precious metal and stone inlays. They may not be as flash as the Sultans, but my bedside tables will always remind me of Um. I have lots of other wonderful memories, Um served me up BBQ snake one time - really suprised him when I actually ate some of it !! My first night in Jakarta over 10 years ago, Um took us to dinner at a seafood restraunt, and though his English wasn't very good, he made me feel so welcome. Um never married, because the love of his life's parents didn't think he was good enough for her - but he had plenty of love and family in his friends! Seeing him has always been a highlight of every visit since. Rest in Peace dear Um - and thanks for the memories, your friendship and the laughs. Off to bedy byes now . . . be good tomorrow kiddies !!! cheers luv Laurie

Morning Wattlers. Well Rebs gave the Lotto a bit of a nudge, with just about a number in every line, but we are not meant to be big winners just yet. Well winners in the $$$ sense that is...:>)) As far as friendship goes on this thread, i feel we are all winners. Laurie. Love reading your travels mate, and you tell it so well. Joy (cuz )...:>)) Yes, i did find your thread on 'Jack the Ripper'..thanks. Barb and i did a tour, while in London, but because we were in such a large group, and the tallies ( namely me ) had to stand at the back of the group.....and me being partially deaf in one ear...missed most of the story..unfortunatley.But it was interesting to walk in the footsteps of a time when London locked its doors at night. To know, or want to know, ...that is the Question: Many years ago when i first started researching my fathers side of the Family tree, i used to visit my mum to pick her brains. My Grandparents had passed away before i was born, and my dad died when i was 12 years old, so my mum was the only person who knew much about my dad's side of the family. There was an old wedding photo of my dad's parents marriage in 1910 that hung in the hallway of my mums home, as my grandmother lived with my parents before she died. As a young child i never took much notice of this framed Photo, but noticed it a bit more in detail as i grew older. The grooms face had been scratched out?? When i started my tree, and was well into research, i asked my mum why grandads face was scratched out in the wedding photo!! She replied: O'h....your nan and pop probably had a fight, and grandma must have scratched your grandads face off the photo. ha ha. I just took this for granted, as many husbands and wife's have a spat every now and then, so why not back then. For many years i let my dads side of my tree go, and concentrated on my mums side, as she had all the details and Certs. The Internet was born: It came to the time during my family tree research, that i needed to add my dad's parent's marriage details into my tree. I asked my mum where they married. Well she said, grandad and grandma married in India. Your grandma was born there ( British parents ) and your grandad met her there when he was in India, but he was born in England ( Occ:Piano Tutor ) Do you have there marriage certificate or know where they were married in India, i said. My mum wasn't sure where exactly, as grandma never talked about it much, she said. After a bit of snooping around, i came across my grandads 'Invalid Pension claim' here in Oz, with some interesting details on it. Section 9.' Where were you married.' Answer: Mussoorie India 6th Oct 1910. ( BINGO ) I wrote to all the Chuches in Mussoorie, but no-body could find this marriage. I was getting frustrated because there were no results. I joined an Indian mailing list, and put in a help request, with what details i had from the pension claim form. ( BINGO ) A response within a month. Marriage found: Bride:Grandma's name and parents names ( which i already new ) Spouse: ( Not Grandad.)....but some other bloke??? Date of marriage: 6th Oct 1910 Mussoorie, India. Everything fitted, except the name of spouse/husband. Wot the!!!! ........and.....????? how can this be. ( checked Grandads Pension claim form again. ) Yep. that seems to be alright. O'k...so now i am really hooked,( who is this bloke, and where is my grandad.) and now the detective bit starts taking over. Whats going on, i thought. A few months went by, and i received an Email from England ( a descendant from one of my Grandmothers brothers. )who had found my request on the India list. We emailed back and forth swapping Emails ( as ya do ) We always wondered what happened to your grandmother Tony. ( as my grandad said she nicked off, done a runner.) She was in India one moment, and gone the next. I was asked if i would like a Photo of my Grandparents marriage that was taken in India in 1910. I said, that would be great, as the one i have has grandads face scratched off. A day later it was sent to me as an 'attach' It was the identical Photo that hung in the hallway of my mums house, but this one was intact. I looked at the Photo of the Groom, but it wasn't my grandad..... All the pennies dropped at once.......Aaaahhhhh.......naughty..... naughty....Grandparents. ( a love affair, perhaps ) Apparently, my grandad to be, was my grandmother to be.....Piano Tutor in India. ( Ships in the night.) The happy lovers arrived in Oz 1915. Did she divorce her first husband!!!...............I prefer the mystery,and the romance. Tony Oz...:>)))

Morning Wattlers We have had rain! 15 mls which is better than a poke in the eye with a forked stick! Perhaps a little more in clearing showers today - keep your fingers crossed. Hope you have had some more in Mudgee, Lew. Tony - what a story! And how fantastic that you were able to track down the details. I guess it's a lesson for us all - to keep on searching. Well done! Laurie - love your travelogue. Keep on enjoying all those wonderful experiences and passing them on to us - we will live vicariously through them! Trifley - of course you have a supportive family. I'm sure they all realize that they have a queen in their midst! Enjoy the flowers! Did you get the photo of Katherine? My Katherine arrived home from Canberra on her 16th birthday and though she was tired she managed to stay awake for the day and we took her out for a lovely birthday dinner on Friday night. (Jill - she must almost share a birthday with your son.) Yesterday, we went shopping with her birthday money - hit all the fashion shops - and then we went to see the Pirate's movie, Dead Man's Chest. She loved it - I was impressed with the special effects! Vonny - Katherine's favourite part of the whole trip was the War Memorial in Canberra. She had been there before with us, but since then she has studied Modern History and has developed a real interest in it so she was fascinated by the Museum. Her choir sang 'In Flander's Fields' in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and she said it was the most moving experience. Lots of people moved to tears. She was chosen to lay a poppy as a representative of the choir. Waves to everyone - have to take Katherine to work. It's back to reality for her! Luv Anna

Morning Wafflers. Pleased to hear that you had some rain Anna. We've had a total of 31.8mm so far and it looks like we've more to come. I've woken up with a sore throat, but hopefully it won't develope any further. Luckily the weather is yukky and the guests will be leaving after breakfast, so I think a day relaxing is in order. Sorry, about the Lotto, Jood. What with having guests and all, I just completely forgot. Sounds like you had an interesting night. Laurie, stop with the Japanese talk, you know it's my favourite! Yummy. Sorry to here of the death of your friend. He sounded like a lovely person. Ooo, Tony, scandal, that's what we like. How very interesting. Would love to know the story behind it. And thanks for those shipping records. Thanks for the jigsaw, Gwenda. It was really clever. Hi Mary, still packing. Just throw it all out and start afresh, lol. Off to have some brekky. Lew Lew